Current Section

U.S. Men's National Team Falls to Russia, 6-1

MINSK, Belarus – Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich./Michigan State University/Detroit Red Wings) scored and Team USA held a 40-23 advantage in shots on goal, but the U.S. Men's National Team fell to Russia, 6-1, in its third preliminary-round game of the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship here today.

The Russians jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a pair of first-period goals and a tally 20 seconds into the middle stanza before Abdelkader scored 37 second later to cut the advantage to 3-1. Jeff Petry (Ann Arbor, Mich./Michigan State University/Edmonton Oilers) picked up the puck just inside the offensive blue line and sent a shot towards the net. Abdelkader, who was parked just outside the crease, redirect the puck past Russian goaltender Andrei Vasilevski.

Team Russia picked up three more goals in the second frame to build a 6-1 lead entering the second intermission despite the U.S. holding a 26-17 edge in shots on goal.

Neither team scored in the final stanza.

Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich./University of Vermont/Dallas Stars) started for the U.S. and stopped 11 shots. David Leggio (Williamsville, N.Y./Clarkson University) entered the game at 11:07 of the second period and made seven saves.

The U.S. Men's National Team (2-0-0-1) is back in action Thursday (May 15) vs. Latvia at 9:45 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.